Have you experienced going to a place where no one can understand you? On my first time in Hongkong, we were like a mute whose only way of communication is by hand gesture. After 20 years, Hongkong had changed and English is not rare anymore. In Vietnam, Beijing and Jakarta, however, we were back to the dark ages of using the calculator to express the numbers and hand signals. The most difficult part in touring that kind of place is when dining. We just rely on the picture of the food.
Traveling to a place where English is not spoken
- Thread starter Corzhens
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fantanoice
Madly Diligent
I'm travelling to Japan next year (first international holiday, yay) and need to learn some phrases to get around. At least Google Translate is a thing.
Joshua Farrell
FP's Housekeeper
I haven't been to a place where very few people spake English, but the places I have been where people were bilingual, I was still a little confused on how to speak to some of those people.
tiffiecute
New Arrival
I have not traveled beyond the borders of my motherland. Just within local destinations. But I am aware that there countries wherein English is quite alienated to them. It's because of the educational system that they uphold. I'm not saying it's a bad thing that they don't teach English in school because it's a choice really. But of course, it would bring disadvantage in communicating with other English spoken countries.
fantanoice
Madly Diligent
To be fair, English speakers often act the same way to foreign speakers.
I just arrived in South Korea this morning for a short vacation. Communication is difficult because only few can speak English. We almost lost our way when the bus driver couldn't understand me. Making it worse is their signages are in Korean and very few have English translation. Maybe I would totally enjoy my vacation when I go to the US since there is no language barrier .
Many speak English due to all the ESL schools, but they might be shy to share it - cause unless it's the best, they don't want to use it.
How were you confused if one of the languages they spoke included English? 😛
Japan is one of the few places in the world where English is almost non-existent. Other countries sort of have "basic English" incorporated into their lifestyle.
Joshua Farrell
FP's Housekeeper
Some of those I spoke to, didn't have a complete grasp of some of the basic English that was spoken.
I have been to Japan, I mean stopped there for 4 hours waiting for my next flight then out again. In the major city's they all do speak English. Why say they don't when they do?? huh
Ah, they wouldn't be bilingual in that case (even though they might claim to be). 😀
In a couple of cities such as Tokyo and Okinawa, they have some signs in English and scattered English-speakers. It's still quite limited compared to the rest of the world. But once you go out of what you'd consider the few main cities of Japan and head out to rural areas, towns, or even other populated cities, you'll find that there are virtually no English speakers and barely any signs in English. And this isn't an accident. Most of the world has English incorporated into the education curriculum, business, trade, and other daily activities. As a result, they end up using English in some way. You don't have that in Japan, which kind of gives you the atmosphere of visiting an alien planet lol. Some people like it, but some people don't.
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